04 July 2012

R&B Singer Frank Ocean Comes Out in Emotional Tumblr Post

The phenomenally talented R&B singer and songwriter Frank Ocean—the voice behind the critically acclaimed single "Novacane" and the mixtape nostalgia, ULTRA—has come out in an emotional post on his Tumblr. Read the moving letter AFTER THE JUMP ...

The move follows several days of rumors after an advance review of Ocean's soon-to-be-released new album Channel Orange. The album drops July 17. The reviewer at BBC's Radio 1xtra noted that some of the love songs were addressed to "he" as opposed to "she". "We think it's brave and admire him for being so honest and sharing such a personal aspect of his life through his music," 1xtra's Max is quoted at The Boombox. "On the songs 'Bad Religion' 'Pink Matter and 'Forrest Gump' you can hear him sing about being in love and their are quite obvious words used like 'him' and not 'her.'

The 24-year-old New Orleans native confirmed the speculation on Tuesday. Ocean wrote an emotional open letter that apparently was meant to be included in Channel Orange's liner notes. The letter speaks of the pain of falling in love and coming to terms with his sexuality. Ocean decided to publish the letter ahead of time.

4 summers ago, I met somebody. I was 19 years old. He was too. We spent that summer, and the summer after, together. Everyday almost. And on the days we were together, time would glide. Most of the day I'd see him, and his smile. I'd hear his conversation and his silence..until it was time to sleep. Sleep I would often share with him. By the time I realized I was in love, it was malignant. It was hopeless. There was no escaping, no negotiating with the feeling.

It was my first love, it changed my life. ... I sat there and told my friend how I felt. I wept as the words left my mouth. I grieved for them, knowing I could never take them back for myself. He patted my back. He said kind things. He did his best, but he wouldn't admit the same. He had to go back inside soon. It was late and his girlfriend was waiting for him upstairs. He wouldn't tell me the truth about his feelings for me for another 3 years. I felt like I'd only imagined reciprocity for years.

Ocean concludes: "To my mother, you raised me strong. I know I'm only brave because you were first ... so thank you. All of you. For everything good. I feel like a free man."

Ocean has written for Justin Bieber, Beyonce, John Legend and others. Ocean is also part of the alternative hip hop collective Odd Future, whose de facto leader is Tyler Gregory Okonma bka "Tyler the Creator." Tyler tweeted his support to Ocean: "My Big Brother Finally Fucking Did That. Proud Of That Nigga Cause I Know That Shit Is Difficult Or Whatever."

Hip hop icon, entertainment mogul and LGBT ally Russell Simmons applauded the move. "Today is a big day for hip-hop," Simmons wrote at Global Grind. "It is a day that will define who we really are. How compassionate will we be? How loving can we be? How inclusive are we? I am profoundly moved by the courage and honesty of Frank Ocean."

"I love the fact that Russell Simmons jumped on it! He didn't wait for others," DJ Baker, the host of the popular LGBT-themed, hip-hop internet radio show The Da-Doo Dirty Show told R20. "I'm very excited about Frank coming out means a lot for music bcause he is a new producer on the rise."

Congratulations to Frank Ocean for standing and living his truth. Coming out is never easy, especially at a young age and in the public spotlight. It also goes without saying that Ocean's honesty is literally shaking the foundations of hip-hop. Bravo. Read his powerful letter AFTER THE JUMP ...

Whoever you are, wherever you are, I'm starting to think we're a lot alike. Human beings spinning on blackness. All wanting to be seen, touched, heard, paid attention to. My loved ones are everything to me here. In the last year or 3 I've screamed at my creator. Screamed at clouds in the sky. For some explanation. Mercy maybe. For peace of mind to rain like manna somehow.

4 summers ago, I met somebody. I was 19 years old. He was too. We spent that summer, and the summer after, together. Everyday almost. And on the days we were together, time would glide. Most of the day I'd see him, and his smile. I'd hear his conversation and his silence..until it was time to sleep. Sleep I would often share with him. By the time I realized I was in love, it was malignant. It was hopeless. There was no escaping, no negotiating with the feeling. No choice. It was my first love, it changed my life.

Back then my mind would wander to the women I had been with, the ones I cared for and though I was in love with. I reminisced about the sentimental songs I enjoyed when I was a teenager..the ones I played when I experienced a girlfriend for the first time. I realized they were written in a language I did not yet speak. I realized too much too quickly.

Imagine being thrown from a plane. I wasn't in a plane though. I was in a Nissan Maxima, the same car I packed up with bags and drove to Los Angeles in. I sat there and told my friend how I felt. I wept as the words left my mouth. I grieved for them, knowing I could never take them back for myself.

He patted my back. He said kind things. He did his best, but he wouldn't admit the same. He had to go back inside soon. It was late and his girlfriend was waiting for him upstairs. He wouldn't tell me the truth about his feelings for me for another 3 years. I felt like I'd only imagined reciprocity for years.

Now imagine being thrown from a cliff. No, I wasn't on a cliff, I was still in my car telling myself it was gonna be fine and to take deep breaths. I took the breaths and carried on. I kept up a peculiar friendship with him because I couldn't imagine keeping up my life without him. I struggled to master myself and my emotions. I wasn't always successful.

The dance went on. I kept the rhythm for several summers after. It's winter now. I'm typing this on a plane back to Los Angeles from New Orleans. I flew home for another marred Christmas. I have a windowseat. It's December 27, 2001. By now I've written two albums, this being the second. I wrote to keep myself busy and sane. I wanted to create worlds that were rosier than mine. I tried to channel overwhelming emotions. I'm surprised at how far all of it has taken me.

Before writing this I'd told some people my story. I'm sure these people kept me alive, kept me safe.. sincerely, these are the folks I wanna thank from the floor of my heart. Everyone of you knows who you are.. great humans, probably angels. I don't know what happens now, and that's alrite. I don't have any secrets I need kept anymore. There's probably some small shit still, but you know what I mean. I was never alone, as much as I felt like it.. as much as I still do sometimes. I never was. I don't think I ever could be.

Thanks. To my first love. I'm grateful for you. Grateful that even though it wasn't what I hoped for and even though it was never enough, it was. Some things never are.. and we were. I won't forget you. I won't forget the summer. I'll remember who I was when I met you. I'll remember who you were and how we've both changed and stayed the same. I've never had more respect for life and living than I have right now. Maybe it takes a near death experience to feel alive. Thanks. To my mother, you raised me strong. I know I'm only braved because you were first.. so thank you. All of you. For everything good. I feel like a free man. If I listen closely.. I can hear the sky.

At the lead of his career. By his own words and standards. With his own truth.

I am so proud of Frank Ocean I could cry, simply for the GROWN MAN MOVE OF HANDLING HIS OWN DESTINY!

Now, on with the music! At the end of the day, he's a brilliant musician and someday SOON people will get that when you come out and keep it moving, people keep moving! His emotional love songs and firestarting dance tracks are still BRILLIANT. Period.

The letter is so poetic and real. It's from such a young heart. I will have to check out more of his music.
There are more like him out there. Of course your hardcore rappers and most love song crooners are afraid of losing their image with the ladies and the "dudes."

Rod, I love you and I've been a devoted reader for seven years now, but I have to spar with you on this one. Frank Ocean never "came out" as "bisexual" in this letter. He simply states that he was (perhaps still is) in love with a man. He might be talking about his sexuality, sure, but it is hardly a "coming out" letter.

Having said that, I still think it is a beautiful letter from a talented man and we should support his growth process through what I can imagine are some confusing times. Channel Orange is going to be a great album!

@Nick D - He didn't fall in love on purpose, and he didn't do it to hurt anyone. When you are young (and sometimes older) that happens. When I look back at the things I did when I was first coming out, I know for a fact I can't judge anyone else's actions. That first love can make you do things you told your heart, mind, mama, and God, that you would never do.
But now, when we grow up, prayerfully, when we know better, we will do better.